Everyone Asked - How Can I Help?
by George Rath - Program Director, KNCO FM/STAR 94.1
KNCO Radio became a critical communication link from the fire to local residents. At that time KNCO was on the air between 5am and Midnight. When the fire started, the station pre-empted all regular programming and operated 24 hours a day, bringing residents information on the spread of the fire, evacuations, and firefighting strategies. Due to their effort, KNCO became one of the first broadcasting stations in the country to receive the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Outstanding Public Service Award. In addition to the information they provided, they also raised over $170,000 in emergency aid and prompted listeners to provide food and towels for the firefighters. KNCO was also honored by the California Legislature and the City Council of Nevada City for their outstanding service. "KNCO was honored by the National Association of Broadcasters with the prestigious Crystal Award for excellence in community service, after our coverage of the 49er Fire. Although it was a single award, it was an award that virtually went to each member of our staff at that time. Everyone, from sales, to management and programming asked the same question, "how can I help?" It was the most unified experience of my life involving the entire community," stated George Rath.
Provided by Carolyn Gannon, Rough & Ready Fire
Home Owners Trying to Stop the Fire with a Garden Hose
By Steve Taylor – Fire Captain, CAL FIRE
I was fishing near Highway 50 when I saw the plume of smoke. I packed up and headed home. Arriving at the Auburn Headquarters, I was able to find my Captain, get in the engine, and go to work. The 49’er Fire was the biggest and most devastating fire that I had been to in my young career. The fast moving flame fronts; the heroics of saving structures and losing others; the sight of homeowners trying of saving structures and losing others; the sight of homeowners trying to stop a major fire with garden hoses; and disoriented animals and pets fleeing are not sights that come to mind in thinking of the 49’er Fire.
When I think of the Fire, I think of the way the community came together, after being beat down by this disaster. They were so generous to fire personnel. They put up signs of thanks, offered us food and drinks, and wanted to help us in any way they could. I was never so impressed and proud to be a firefighter. Neighbors were helping neighbors and even strangers in need. My greatest hope would be that communities would come together in the same manner, prior to a major fire, by creating defensible space – giving us a fighting chance.
PG&E Jumps into Action
Taken from the 2008 Fire Season Guide
Long-time PG&E employee Rich Thompson remembers the start of the 49er Fire in 1988 like it was yesterday. “it looked like a mushroom cloud. I’ll remember it forever,” said Thomson, PG&E Distribution Supervisor in Grass Valley. Thompson and dozens of other PG&E crews were soon working around the clock in tandem with firefighters to save property in the path of the flames.
“We had to go into areas that were still burning,” remembers Steve Rigler, PG&E District Supervisor in Auburn. “Well pumps run on electricity and people needed the water to protect their homes.”
For the next several days, PG&E had over 100 employees from Grass Valley, Auburn, Marysville, Roseville and Sacramento helping to restore power to customers in the wake of one of the most devastating fire storms in 25 years. Restoration efforts included replacing 160 power poles, wiping fire retardant off of insulators and putting up temporary power lines so that rebuilding could begin as soon as possible.
For both Thompson and Rigler, the toughest part of the job was watching customers cry as they sifted through ashes that had once been their home. Today, PG&E still works very closely with fire agencies during fires to de-energize lines for firefighter safety and to restore power as quickly as possible so that wells are working when fire damages the system.
“Fire will always be a threat to this area,” said Rigler. “But it will be the fire agencies, PG&E and residents being fire safe that will make a difference next time.”
Provided by Carolyn Gannon, Rough & Ready Fire
Animals Released from the Ark
By Carolyn Gannon – Rough and Ready Fire District Secretary
My husband, Don, and I were coming back from Southern California, when we saw smoke coming from the Marysville area. Don had been appointed Chief of Rough and ready Fire Department two months before and I was the President of the Ladies Auxiliary. As we passed the roadblocks and made it to Rough and Ready, we were overcome by smoke, chaos and the sense of fear all around us.
Driving up Rough & Ready Road, it looked like Noah had just released all the animals from the ark – horses, sheep, goats, lamas and a small pot belly pig running down the center of the road.
The fire station was being used as a staging center. People started bringing food and drinks to the firefighters or to those who had evacuated. Everything from one bottle of apple juice to 6 packs of sodas or truck loads of food and drink were donated. Longs Drugs sent us truckloads of eyewash, toothpaste and lotion. Lucky’s Market also sent a pick-up full of toilet paper, paper towels, ect. Everyone wanted to help.
After about 18 hours, I finally found time to go home. Relatives and strangers were staying at our house after being evacuated. I needed to change clothes and pack a few clothes for my husband and myself. I opened the closet ad saw his hat collection. I pulled the bed spread off and filled it up with his hats and took that. He had no change of underwear or shirts for the next 5 days, but he could change hats for 3 months! It was very hard to think straight in this type of emergency. So, the message is – the more planning you can do ahead of time – the more complete your evacuation kit – the more thorough your evacuation plans – the better, because it is hard to think clearly.
Luckily, we did not lose our home but we had friends that did. This was all so very sad, but we can be thankful that no one was hurt. After the fire, everyone picked up the pieces and kept going. I am thankful we live in a community that was so willing to help each other, we will be there to help each other.
Provided by Sean Griffis, CAL Fire
17,000 Residents Raise Fund for Fire Victims
By Charlie Jakobs – Fire Captain, CAL FIRE
When the fire started near North San Juan, the annual Constitution Day Parade had just started in Nevada City, Within Minutes, People were able to see smoke coming from the fire as it spread rapidly, driven by 30 mile per hour winds. Thousands of acres of brush and trees were being consumed at a rate calculated to be over 2,000 acres per hour. Before sundown on the 11th, the fire had burned through Rough and Ready, the Grass Valley Group property off Bitney Springs Road, into Lake Wildwood and other parts of Penn Valley, including the Pleasant Valley Road Highway 20, Wildwood Heights and the Mooney Flat Road.
Fire Fighters from all over Nevada County and other nearby counties were the first responders. Within hours, CDF had activated the Statewide Master Mutual Aid System. By Tuesday, over 3,000 firefighters had descended upon Nevada County and hundreds of pieces of fire apparatus could be seen throughout the County and at the Fairgrounds. It was a massive effort to provide protection and support to the residents of Nevada County.
I was as devastated as anyone else when looking at the massive smoke column looming over an area that I knew so well. This had never happened to me – seeing a fire of this proportion occurring where I live. When it was all over and the fire was finally declared contained and controlled, the following Sunday, only one week since it started, a giant fundraising party for victims was held at the Fairgrounds and an estimated 17,000 people attended. Thousands of dollars were raised for those who had lost so much during the 49’er Fire. Only in Nevada County.
Provided by Sean Griffis, CAL Fire
DESTRUCTION OF DOZER 2341
by Bernie Paul - Unit Chief, CALFIRE - County Fire Warden, Siskiyou Unit
On September 11, 1988, Bernie Paul was a Heavy Equipment Operator for the California Department of Forestry, stationed in Dobbins, California.
When he and his dozer arrived on the scene near Reader Ranch, the Forty Niner Fire was at about 300 acres. Initially he was instructed to lead two private dozer operators down the canyon west of Highway 49.
He ended up going in alone, cleaning the road and creating safety islands with dirt piles for shelter.
When he noticed spot fires, he attempted to circle around them, but it was too late. The entire canyon was on fire and racing toward him. He made it back to one of the safety islands and barely had time to duck underneath his dozer. As the fire was burning over, he donned his fire shelter. At this point he began to notice diesel dripping around him from the dozer’s engine. He rushed out from underneath, dragging his shelter with him. The dozer was on fire but he still attempted to retrieve a few of its contents. He was able to get his radio just as the fire made another run from the south. He found sanctuary between two mounds of dirt he had previously piled up with his machine and with his shelter, waited the worst of the fire out.
At one point he saw a helicopter circling above and he attempted to signal the crew to dump retardant on the now fully engulfed dozer. They missed the intended target and instead hit him with 300 pounds of retardant, knocking him to his knees.
The dozer was a total loss. Bernie escaped with minor burns to his hands and arms.
Provided by Sean Griffis, CAL Fire
Provided by Sean Griffis, CAL Fire
